Travel like a Pro

For productivity and fun on-the-go, the features-packed iPad Pro 10.5 is a winner, writes Izwan Ismail

IHARDLY travel with my laptop nowadays. The reasons include its huge form factor, even the “small” 12-inch size. It just takes up much space in my bag. With advancements in tablet technology, such as a faster processor that can match those of laptops,lightness in weight, better screen resolution, big storage, camera, long battery life and, most importantly, a wonderful app ecosystem, my preference for on-the-go entertainment and productivity devices has changed to tablets.

One of the advanced tablets in the market today is the iPad Pro 10.5 inch, which was made available here recently.

This is the second generation the iPad Pro, and it includes the 12.9-inch model.

FIRST IMPRESSION

At 10.5-inch, this iPad Pro is the perfect size for a tablet. It is big enough for viewing content like videos and photos.

Anything smaller may be too small for a tablet. If it is larger — despite better viewing — it may not be travel-friendly.

Compared to the 9.7-inch iPad, both may look the same. However, for this iPad Pro, Apple has made the display larger by reducing the bezel by 40 per cent, and maintaining the 469 grammes weight.

The current generation of iPad Pro has powerful specifications, such as the A10X six-core processor and a 12-core graphic processing unit (GPU), support HDR video with a 120-Hz refresh rate.

They also come with a True Tone technology display which is 50 per cent brighter than earlier models.

The Apple Pencil and the keyboard make the iPad Pro an alternative to laptops.

FEATURES

Apple has looked into making the tablet a natural experience.

For example, the True Tone technology in the iPad Pro makes reading easier, by mimicking a light source.

Your eyes quickly feel tired or become watery after a while in front of the computer screen.

But by turning on the True Tone feature in the display setting, the screen follows the colours of the lights surrounding you.

Takewhite paper and put it under a white or yellow light, and you’ll see how the surface colour changes because of the light reflection.

And in the True Tone mode, the iPad Pro screen adjusts the screen display tone and brightness so that it will be easy on the eyes.

DISPLAY AND SOUND

Let’s move to display, whichis the most important feature of a tablet, not just for the iPad Pro.

When using a device, all activities revolve around the screen.

The iPad Pro screen comes with a slightly higher 2,224 x 1,668 pixel resolution compared to the previous generation of iPad, with the introduction of ProMotion technology.

The refresh rate of the screen is boosted to 120 frames per second (120Hz), double the usual standard in most smartphones and tablets.

However, the screen refresh rate is not fixed at 120Hz all the time, as this will drain the battery.

It varies between 24Hz and 120Hz, depending on the display.

If it is a static picture, the refresh rate is 24Hz and if it is the fast-moving graphics of action games, the refresh rate goes up to 120Hz.

When it comes to sound reproduction, the new iPad Pro produces crisp surround sound.

The four forward-facing internal speakers, which sit at each corner of the tablet, do what they are supposed to do.

A picture taken with the iPad Pro.

The battery is surprisingly good. A full charge on standby can last a week.

CAMERA

While people don’t use the tablet for taking pictures, the one on the iPad Pro may make them change their minds.

This is because the 12-megapixel camera set-up is the same as the one in iPhone 7.

This results in images with similar quality — if not better — than the iPhone 7. It will be even better if Apple had attached the dual-lens camera like the one in iPhone 7 Plus.

The front camera features a sevenmegapixel camera, which is more than adequate for selfies/wefies and video calls.

APPLICATIONS

What drives a tablet like the iPad Pro is the app eco-system and the specific apps designed for it such as the Affinity Photo, Procreate and Paper.

The Apple Pencil, which is a digital stylus, makes using the iPad Pro a pleasant experience.

The iPad Pro with the Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard

Designed like a pencil, and works like one, it is a great accessory for jotting down notes on apps like Notes, but this pencil is also great for drawing.

The thickness of the lines can be adjusted by selecting the various types of pencils available and, just like writing on a piece of paper, the more the pressure you put on the pencil, the darker the lines.

As for creativity apps Affinity Photo, Procreate and even the simple Snapseed, using the pencil will give a more accurate touch to your artwork.

The apps make this tablet a powerful device.

Besides the Apple Pencil, the iPad Pro smart keyboard gives users the ability to type like they do on a standard PC keyboard or laptop. Although a bit small, typing on it feels natural.

Apple also has made available a stylish leather sleeve for users to secure the iPad Pro and Apple Pencil.

The iPad Pro will become more powerful when Apple introduces iOS 11 later this year.

It’s a framework that allows developers Working with the Apple Pencil can result in delightful outcomes.

to easily create unparallelled augmented reality experiences for the iPhone and iPad.

By blending digital objects and information with the environment around you, ARKit takes apps beyond the screen to interact with the real world in new ways, like

CONCLUSION

If you’re looking for a productivity device that matches your laptop, then the iPad Pro should be on your priority list. The iPad Pro 10.5-inch is available from RM2,999, while the 12.9-inch version is priced from RM3,499. They are available in silver, space gray, gold and rose gold.

The Apple Pencil costs RM449 while the Apple Smart Keyboard is available at RM699 for the 10.5-inch version and RM749 for the 12.9-inch.